Page 16 of All You Need is Alien Love
I’m River Sullivan,muthafuckas. I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t.
“Was my contact helpful?” Evan asks.
I beam at him. “Incredibly so. She was amazing. In fact, I’ve been taking lessons with her several days a week. I’m feeling as confident as I can for that part of the ceremony now.”
He reaches out and squeezes my hand. “Eso es bueno. I’m glad to hear it.”
We finally pull up our episode and the familiar opening theme song ofLas Lágrimas del Vientobegins playing. Evan sips his martini and I chow down on my potato chips as we watch the much-anticipated finale and bask in our BFF bond.
It feels like the calm before the inevitable storm, and I soak it up for all it’s worth.
CHAPTER FOUR
The officials overseeing the Blood Duel took Captain Starblade and his crew into their custody while Lord Vardox and Khamos Atasham made their way to the formal arena.
Vardox wasn’t surprised to find the stadium filled with eager onlookers hoping to witness a gruesome battle to the death.
It probably helped that Vardox had attained a rather high degree of notoriety on an intergalactic level. No doubt some were eager for his demise, while others were betting on his victory.
A holographic view screen materialized above them, and the MC for the event, dressed in his official robes, addressed the crowd.
“Galactic greetings to one and all! Here in the hallowed Hall of High Wolfham, we shall witness the formal Blood Duel between Lord Loki Vardox of the Masnoks and Captain Khamos Atasham of the Katnu Clan. Both parties have signed the necessary documents and agree to abide by the rules of this battle to the death. Only one winner will emerge victorious. Let the duel begin!”
The screen blipped out of existence and the audience cheered. Vardox could practically feel the bloodlust raging around him. It only added more fuel to the fire of his own determination. He would save his precious captain. Khamos’s life was the price, and Vardox was more than willing to pay it.
In fact, he was looking forward to it.
He flung off his cloak, letting all ten of his tentacles out to play. Like all Masnoks, Vardox could adjust the abilities of his tentacles depending on whether he was using them for pleasure or for battle. Gone were the more nubile, soft tips he would use to tantalize his sweet captain. In their place were deadly sharp hooks he normally kept retracted. They dripped with a lethal poison Masnoks naturally produced. Vardox rarely went so far as to use this biological advantage he was born with, preferring to employ his wits and weapons instead. But Khamos Atasham had threatened what Vardox cherished most in the universe and for that, he would die.
The Katnu pirate, who’d swaggered in brimming with overconfidence moments ago, took several steps back as his one good eye studied Vardox’s writhing tentacles warily.
“Shall we begin your punishment for daring to take what’s mine?” Vardox asked, allowing his eyes to turn red.
He didn’t wait for an answer before he let out a bellowing Masnok battle cry that silenced the entire stadium of onlookers and launched his opening attack.
—The Tentacular Tales of Captain Starblade, Ch. 161
Kai
“Where’s River?”Mom asks when she opens the door.
“What am I, chopped liver?”
She rolls her eyes and pulls me in for a quick kiss on the cheek. “Hardly. It’s just rare to see you two lovebirds apart. You’re still in the honeymoon period, you should be all over each other.”
I follow her into the kitchen and my dad gives me an understanding smile—he knows my mom’s interrogation style of conversation—before handing me a glass of wine.
I mouth a silent “thank you” then turn to face my mother. “River’s having a BFF night with Evan. With everything that’s happened over the past few weeks, they haven’t been able to spend much time together.”
Mom nibbles on some cheese on the charcuterie board my dad has laid out for us while he finishes cooking dinner. “Evan’s a good egg. He’s feisty and a lot less tenderhearted than my son-in-law. That young man would shank anyone who tried to hurt River, and that makes him A-OK in my book.”
I don’t doubt her. Evan may be small in stature, but my instincts tell me he knows how to fight dirty and win when he has to.
“I’m doing my best to be a supportive spouse. As much as I’d like to keep River to myself, I know he needs to have time with the many other people who love and care for him.”
Dad squeezes my shoulder. “Glad to hear it. I’m so proud of you and all the work you are putting into being a good mate to River.”
I flush, warm pleasure curling like a satisfied tentacle in my chest. “Thanks, Dad. It’s all River’s doing. He’s helped me grow and become a better man, a man who deserves to be with him. I don’t intend to do anything to lose the gift of his love and companionship.”
